TPiH 085 Clayton Hatfield, Milo Miller, and coach Keith Gable - KidWind Whirlwinds

This week's episode is electrifying!I'm sure you'll get a real jolt out of it!It might be the most shocking episode yet!OK. Enough with the Dad jokes. This week's episode of That Guy In Hutch features a couple of stand out Allen STEM Magnet School students - and their coach - who are headed to the World KidWind Competition in Madison, Wisconsin after taking tops the Statewide Competition. You'll hear Clayton Hatfield, Milo Miller, and coach Keith Gable discuss the work that goes into designing a winding wind turbine, and all the skills the students learn in the process. Before we get into that, however, I am going to ask a favor. Allen STEM Magnet School has two teams headed to the world competition: the Whirlwinds (4th and 5th grade) and the Mavericks (6th-8th grades). Both teams won first place in their division at the state competition and need to raise about $15,000 to cover travel costs for the students and their sponsors. While these students learn a great deal in the KidWind competition, it's not something covered by normal school expenses. You can mail a check to to Allen STEM Magnet School: KidWind Team, 403 W 10th Ave, Hutchinson, KS 67501. The Checks can be made out to Allen PTO c/o KidWind Team. Alternately, you can also drop a check off at the Allen office. They also have a gofundme where the money goes directly to help with these expenses. That's how I'll donate this week, and I hope you will too!As you listen to this episode, I think you'll find the KidWind competition is a valuable and enriching experience for these students. I was most impressed with they way Clayton and Milo talked about the process of trial and error. As they develop their ideas and plans, they must put those ideas into practice; when they fail, they revise their plans and try again. Projects like this give students permission to be imperfect. It's teaching them how to think. How to problem-solve, and how to create. It was such a shining example of what is happening in our education systems—something that often isn't highlighted as prominently as it should be. I know you'll find this episode informative and adorable. And I hope when you listen you'll also consider supporting our local kids who are looking to do some really big things on a really big stage. For more information on KidWindwww.kidwind.orgkansasenergyprogram.org/events/2026-state-kidwind-challenge-salinafacebook.com/AllenSTEMKidWindkidwind.org/worlds/2026-2/For additional questions, contact the school at 620-615-4900